Bacon Jam Recipe

Bacon Jam Is the Jam

This holiday season, treat your friends, family, and loved ones to a homemade edible gift. We've compiled 30 of our favorite edible gifts — including this recipe — so you can deliciously DIY.

This holiday season, treat your friends, family, and loved ones to a homemade edible gift. We've compiled 30 of our favorite edible gifts — including this recipe — so you can deliciously DIY.

Sweet edible gifts not your thing? Then how about something savory? Even better, how about something bacon-y, like this to-die-for bacon jam. It's so good that I could only give one jar away. (I gifted myself with the other jar.) It's smoky, sweet, porky, and spicy. A long, slow cook ensures that the onions caramelize and the bacon melts. It has the chunky texture of tapenade and is easy to spread.

I've enjoyed it on toast, crackers, pasta, burgers, and simply and devilishly by the spoonful. If you want someone to fall in love with you, then I highly recommend giving them bacon jam. The words themselves are magical — say it with me: bacon jam. Bacon jam. You get the idea.

Directions

In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or straight-sided sauté pan, cook the bacon in batches over medium-high heat until it's lightly browned and just starting to crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Add the onion and garlic, and cook over medium heat until soft and translucent, 10-12 minutes.

While the onion cooks, slice the bacon into 1-inch strips.

Return the bacon to the pan, and add the brown sugar, sriracha, coffee, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer.

Simmer over low heat, stirring every now and then to prevent sticking, for 3-4 hours or until it has a thick, jam-like consistency and a deep, rich brown color.

Let cool for 20 minutes, and then transfer to a food processor. Pulse for several seconds to finely chop and blend the jam. Season to taste with additional vinegar, sriracha, and salt.

Allow the solids to settle, skim off as much of the fat as possible, and split between two 4-ounce glass jars.

I made a big batch of this yesterday for holiday gifts. If you're planning on doubling the recipe (or more - I made a quad batch), be careful not to use all the bacon drippings for Step 2. You won't need more than the grease from 1-1.5 pounds of bacon. Also, if you are making a larger batch, add time to the total cook time. I simmered my bacon batch for 6-7 hours to get it fully reduced. The final product is delish!! Bacon crack, no doubt. Can't wait to gift it.

sounds great so I am cooking it right now. However, the ingredients mentions two tbs of srircha sauce, but no where in the description does it mention it except at the end. There is says to add a squirt more to bump it up. My question is....is the squirt they mention the 2 tbs of the sauce?

4 years

I don't think anyone answered question about where you add Sriracha. I'm going to assume, if I no one else responds, that it must go in with the paprika towards the end.

4 years

Bacon, Bacon, Bacon!

5 years

Made this for New Years Party...it was a big hit. Dinner guest were asking about on Saturday too. LOL

5 years

Thank you for posting this! I am intrigued by the idea of bacon jam, so I just had to try this. My first attempt was sad. I over cooked it, it was too spicy, chalky, and generally nasty. I nailed it on my second attempt. Delicious! I recently made it for a third time with a few of my own modifications. It's incredible. Would you mind if I posted a link here to my adapted recipe on my blog? The blog isn't food related and no one reads it, so it won't scalp your traffic.

5 years

^^^ BWAhahahahahahahahahahaha. SHE USED GROUND COFFEE!!!
Seriously, it seems like it would be good until you your kitchen and everything in your life is covered in bacon grease.
Then it becomes just o.k.
What is the shelf life?
Thanks

5 years

I just made 6 small jars of this as Christmas gifts for family. It tastes so good! My apartement smelt like a diner all night last night, but it turned out great and wasn't too complicated. I wish the receipe specified that the coffee had to be brewed, and not just "coffee".
Give it a go!

I really don't like coffee ( I don't drink it, even the frou-frou concoctions), the the coffee flavor very present?

5 years

if you can't/don't want to make your own, there's a little place in seattle that makes a great version you can get over the internet. they make great gifts (already bought some for my SIL for xmas).
http://skilletstreetfood.foodzie.com/skillet-bacon-jam.html

5 years

Thanks so much for the shoutout and I'm so glad that you like the recipe. I never got close to giving away any myself-hubby ate every lot I made hehe :)